Giant Pandas are a bear species native to China and are considered China’s most iconic animal. They are vulnerable, with their status changing from endangered to vulnerable in 2016, and are threatened by habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and a low birthrate. Their diet consists almost exclusively of Bamboo and they have the ability to digest cellulose attributed to the microbes in their gut. Their average lifespan is 20 years in the wild and 30 years in captivity.
The Smithsonian National Zoo current panda pair is Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. They were both born at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Wolong, Sichuan, China. Tian Tian and Mei Xiang arrived to the National Zoo on December 6, 2000 and have since produced 7 cubs. Only 3 have reached adulthood and have now left to China in agreement with “Panda Diplomacy”. Mating season is between March and May, with females entering into estrus, that lasts 2 to 3 days and only happens once a year.
Today, at 6:35 PM Eastern US time, a cub was born. We are hopeful, this cub will survive and everything will go well. Mei Xiang and Tian Tian’s last cub was a male born in 2015 named Bei Bei. He departed to China last year in agreement with the Chinese government.
Congratulations to the National Zoo and their panda keepers for having Mei Xiang breed (Mei Xiang is 22 years old and one of the oldest pandas to breed). We hope the baby survives and that everything goes well.
Zoo News 